I see the word vintage being used to describe everything under the sun lately.  Just because something is old or secondhand does not mean it is vintage.

What Is Vintage? How Old Is Vintage Clothing? 

Fast fashion is not vintage.

Reproduction fashion (new items copied from vintage designs) is not vintage.

Style has nothing to do with what is considered vintage. The term vintage refers specifically to age.

How Old Is Vintage?

Etsy defines vintage as anything over twenty years old. This is strictly Etsy’s definition of vintage.  I adhere to Etsy’s definition when selling in my store Vintage By Suzanne. 

There is no legal definition of the word vintage. 

My personal definition of vintage is anything created before the nineties.

At the end of the eighties companies started moving their manufacturing plants overseas and the quality of clothing began to decline.  Fabric contents began to change (fewer natural fabrics) and designs were streamlined to create larger quantities at lower costs.

Define Retro

Wikipedia defines retro clothing as reproduction clothing based on vintage designs.  

I define retro as items between 10-24 years old. 

Defining these terms is very subjective.

One term everyone agrees upon is how to define antique. 

Define Antique

Antique clothing or items is anything over one hundred years old. 

Choose Vintage

In our consumption obsessed world we have become addicted to disposable items.  Understanding and appreciating the quality and timelessness of vintage pieces requires a shift in perceived values.  Just because something is new does not mean it is better. Older items were designed to last. Most newer ones are not. Recognizing the value in older items is a skill that serves not only your pocketbook but the world as a whole.

How do you define vintage? 

Come back soon to see more photos from my recent NYC trip and the surprise blogger I met. 

Linking up with Visible Monday , Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl